Linotype-machine.



N0. 640,032. Patented. Dec. 26, I899.

J. R. ROGERS.

LINDTYPE MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 25, .1898.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 640,032. Patented Dec. 26, I899. J. R. ROGERS.

LlNOTYPE MACHINE. (Application filed Nov. 25, 1898:

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NrTnn STATES Trio.

PATENT JOHN R. ROGERS, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THEMERGENTIIALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

LINOTYPE-MAOHINYE.

SPECIFICATION forming ea or was men No. 640,032, dated December 26,1899. Application filed November 25, 1898. Serial No. 697.417. (Nomodel.)

T0 whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. ROGERS, of New York, (Brooklyn), county ofKings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Linotype-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to a supplemental distributer and magazinefor use in connection with the well-known Mergenthaler linotype-machinerepresented in Letters Patent of the United States, dated March 24,1896, No. 557,000.

In the commercial linotype there are ninety finger-keys, representingthe characters of a corresponding series of type-matrices stored in amagazine. The operation of the keys effects the release of thecorresponding matrices, which descend successively from the lower end ofthe magazine into a common line, which is completed by the addition ofspaces and then transferred to the face of a mold in which the slug orlinotype is cast, cameo characters being produced on its edge by thematrices. After this casting action the line of matrices is lifted intothe top of the machine and the matrices are returned individuallythrough a distributing mechanism into the upper ends of the appropriatemagazine-channels.

In practice it is frequently found desirable to use matricesrepresenting additional characters,or characters which are notrepresented in the keyboard.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple mechanism, readilyattachable to existing machines, by means of which the extra matrices,after being inserted into the composed line, may be automaticallydistributed into the appropriate channels of the supplemental magazine.To this end I provide a small magazine adapted to be seated on or abovethe keyboard of the machine or in other suitable position, and abovethis I arrange a distributer-bar and a conductor by which the extra orsupplemental matrices, commonly known as sorts-matrices, are deliveredautomatically from the main distributer to the secondary distributer,which in turn delivers them to the supplemental magazine. I preferablyconstruct my supplemental magazine with vertical channels each adaptedto receive a number of matrices standing one on top of another,the lowerends of the channels being open, so that the desired matrices may bereadily selected and with- 55 drawn by hand, one at a time, forinsertion into the line in course of composition. As a means ofdistributing to this supplemental magazine I preferably employ asustaining I bar, toothed after the manner of the Mergen- 6o thalerdistributer represented in Letters Patout No. 347,629, dated August 17,1886, and inclined to facilitate the travel of the matrices downwardthereon, preferably using in connection therewith a tappet or equivalentdevice to cause a vibration of the bar, in order that the matrices maydescend by gravity thereover. In order to insure the delivery of thematrices to this bar as they descend successively through the conductorfrom the top of the machine, I make use of a rotary star-wheel orequivalent device.

In the accompanying drawings I have rep resented my device as applied toa Mergenthaler machine, the illustration beinglimited to such parts ofthe machine as are necessary to an understanding of my invention; It isto be understood that in all other respects the machine may be ofordinary construction.

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing my improvements applied to acommercial linotype. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the magazine anddistributer on a large scale. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same lookingfrom the right in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Fig. 4isa cross-section on the correspondingly-numbered line of Figs. 1 and 2,illustrating the construction of the magazine and the manner in whichmatrices are delivered thereto and removed therefrom. Fig. 5 is avertical cross-section through the main distributer on thecorrespondingly-numbered line of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which thesorts-matrices are delivered into the conductor leading to the secondarydistributer. 5

Referring to the drawings, A represents the magazine of an ordinarylinotype-machine, and B the keyboard, from which connections extend tothe mouth of the magazine for selecting and delivering the matrices.

ICO

C is an inclined traveling belt upon which the matrices fall from themagazine and by which they are delivered successively into theassembling-elevator D. 4

E represents the toothed distribu ter-bar,lying horizontally above themagazine and receiving from an elevating mechanism the matrices whichare carried along the bar by the screws F until they are released andpermitted to fallinto the magazine-channels.

The foregoing parts are all constructed and operated in the usualmanner.

Passing now to my invention, G represents my secondary or supplementalmagazine constructed with a series of vertical channels g, each adaptedto receive a column of matrices standing on end one above another. Thesechannels are open at the upper end in order that the matrices mayreadily fall into them. At the lower end'they are left open and thepartitions indented, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4:, in such manner asto expose the front edge of the bottom matrix and admit of'its beingreadily withdrawn by the fingers for insertion into the line ofcomposition.

In order to prevent the accidental escape of the matrices, the magazineis preferably given a slight inclination backward, as shown in Figs. 3and 4. It may be connected to the frame of the machine by abracket-plate N, asshown in Fig. 3, or seated on top of the keyboard orsustained in any other manner, theonly requirement being that it shallstand in such position that the operator at the keyboard may readilyremove the matrices.

H represents the inclined distributer-bar,lying above the top of thesecondary magazine and secured at oneend to the frame of the ,machineorother support by screws vh. This bar is inclined downward to the leftand has its lower V-shaped edge provided with groups of longitudinaldistributing-teeth, permuted or variedin arrangement at different pointsin its length after the manner described in the Mergenthaler patent, No.347,629, above referred to.

The extra or sorts matrices I, having their upper ends notched tostraddle the distributer-bars E and H, are provided in the notched endwith distributer-teeth on the Mergenthaler system, the arrangement ofteeth be- I ling such that all of the matrices will remain in suspensionon the main distributer-bar E until they reach a common delivery-pointand so that they will in like manner remain in suspension from thesecondary distribu terbar H until they reach the different points atwhichthey fall into their appropriate channels in the secondarymagazine.

J represents a tubeor conductor leading from the point at which thesorts-matrices leave the main distributer, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5,downward to a point opposite the right-hand end of thesecondarydistributer H. The matrices descend successively through thisconductor, are arrested by an underlying plate or support K, and arepushed forward lcussive effect.

to the left by a rotating star-wheel L, so that they engage at theirupper ends successively with the distributer-bar H, as clearly shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 4:. This star-wheel may be of the form ordinarily usedin the composing mechanism of the Mergenthaler machine or of any otherappropriate form, or it may be replaced by any equivalent device knownin the art for pushing the matrices successively into engagement withthe distributer. The star-wheel is mounted on a horizontal spindle,bearing a pulley, driven bya belt M from the pulley O on the shaft of awheel forming part of the ordinary machine.

If the distributer-bar H is given sufficient inclination the slightvibration received from the main frame will cause the matrices to traveldownward by gravity; but in order to insure their travel at the properspeed I pro pose to impart to the bar 11 a vibratory or tremulousmovement by any suitable means. I recommend for this purpose a tappet 0rstriker P, pivoted to the frame at p and acted upon by a toothedeccentric Q, mounted on the shaft R, forming part of the ordinarymachine. As the shaft rotates it will cause the end of the tappet tobelifted and released, so that it will strike lightly on the free end ofthe distributer-bar, which is jarred and vibrated sufficien tl y tocause auniform and certain travel of the matrices. A spring 8 ispreferably arranged to drawthe tappet downward, as shown, in order toincrease its per- It will "be obvious to the skilled mechanic that themeans for imparting movement to the .distributer-bar may be widelyvaried withoutvdepartiug from the scope of my invention, theonlyrequirement being that the bar shall be moved rapidly in any directionwhich will cause the matrices to descend thereover.

In order that the matrices may be properly distributed and that one maynot becarried beyond the proper point by another, it is desirable tomaintain the separation between the matrices hanging from thedistributerbar. To thisend I make the inclination of the distributer-barso slight that the matrices will not slide forward or downward under theinfluence of gravity alone, their advance along the bar depending on itsvibration.

WVith the bar inclined at the slight angle 7 ed in the composed linewill in the regular course of operations be lifted with the othermatrices to the main distributerE. Instead of being delivered into themain magazine they will pass along the distributer to the common pointof delivery, where they will escape into the conductor J. Descendingthrough this conductor they will be acted upon by the starwheelL andcarried into engagement with the secondary distributer H. Hanging fromthis distributer they will pass to the left until they arrive over theirrespective channels in the secondary magazine. At these points therelation of the teeth of the matrices-to those on the bar will be suchthat the matrices, receiving no further support from the bar, will fallinto the channels of the magazine.

It will of course be understood that in connection with the secondarydistributer I may use a magazine of any appropriate form to hold thesorts-matrices and that the distributer overlying the secondary magazinemay be modified in construction, provided it serves to receive thematrices which are carried past the main magazine and deliver themproperly to the second magazine.

It will be observed that in my mechanism the two distributers lieparallel with each other, or practically so. This is advantageous inthat it permits the machine to be made of minimum Width and also in thatit brings the secondary magazine within convenient reach of theoperator.

The use of a secondary distribu ter forming a continuation of the maindistributer necessarily increases the width of the machine to anobjectionable extent and gives rise to difiiculties which need not beenumerated.

I believe myself to be the first to combine in a linotype or analogousmachine two distinct distributers, lying one in front of or below theother, and the first to combine with a primary distributer arranged todeliver the sorts or extra matrices at a common point means forconducting such matrices by gravity to a secondary distributer, and alsothe first to combine in one machine a distributing mechanism throughwhich the matrices travel in one direction and a secondary distributerreceiving a portion of such matrices and carrying them in the reversedirection; also, the first to employ an inclined toothed distributer-barof the type herein described and the first to combine with such barmeans for imparting motion thereto. I prefer to use the arrangementshown, in which the sorts-matrices travel through the main distributingmechanism before being conducted to the second distributer, for thereason that this arrangement avoids change in the commercial machine;but it is to be understood that the sorts-matrices may be released atthe entrance to the main distributer, in which case the conductor J willbe'extended to the left side of the distributer, as indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to avoid the carrying of thesorts-matrices through the main distributer.

By the term magazine, as herein employed, is meant a holder or receiverin which the matrices are assorted and arranged in rows or columns, allmatrices bearing the same character being in the same column;

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In alinotype-machine, a magazine, a distributer cooperating therewith, and acorresponding set of matrices, in combination with a second andindependent magazine and a dis tributer therefor, both out of line withthose first named, a second set of matrices permuted to correspond withthe second distributer, means for conducting the matrices of the secondset from the first distributer, and a feed device for delivering saidmatrices from the conductor to the second distributer.

2. In a linotype-machine, the main elevated magazine, its distributerand a corresponding set of matrices, in combination with a'secondmagazine at a lower level within reach of the operator, an independentdistributer and corresponding matrices for the second magazine, a feeddevice for the second distributer, and means for conducting the matricesof the second set from the first distributer to said feed device.

3. In the linotype-machine, the combination of two distinct anddiffering distributerbars, means for feeding the matrices in one'direction along the first distributer-bar, means for conducting thematrices which are not distributed thereby to the second distributerbar,and means for advancing the matrices in a reverse direction along saidsecond bar, whereby the use of the two magazines is permitted withoutincreasing the width of the machine.

4. In a linotype machine, a distributer through which the matrices passin one direction, a secondary distributer through which the matricespass in the reverse direction, means for transferring matrices from thefirst to the second distributer and matrices each adapted to bedistributed by one of the mechanisms only whereby the use of a secondmagazine directly in front of the operator is permitted.

5. In a linotype-machine, two independent magazines, lying one in frontof the other, in combination with a distinct distributer for eachmagazine and means for delivering all the matrices to the firstdistributer, and thereafter delivering the matrices which are notdistributed thereby to the second distributer.

6. In a linotypemachine, a toothed distributer-bar, having aninclination insufficient to cause the matrices to slide thereover,

in combination with means for imparting motion to said bar to insure theslow travel of the matrices thereon whereby the danger of the matricesbeing carried past the proper points and of their adhering to each otheris avoided.

7. In a linotype-machine, the combination of a toothed distributer-bar,having an inclination insufiicient to cause the descent of the matriceswhen the bar is stationary, in

combination with a tappet for imparting vibrations thereto, whereby thematrices are caused to advance slowly along the bar and to maintaintheir separation during their travel.

8. In a linotype-machine, the combination of a toothed distributer-bar,substantially as described, means for delivering the matricessuccessively in a downward direction to a position opposite the end ofsaid bar, and a pusher device acting against the sides of the matricesto push them into engagement with the bar.

9. In a linotype-machine, the distributerbar, the rotary pusher-wheel,and a conductor through which the matrices descend successively in frontof said wheel.

10. In a linotype-machine, a magazine having a series of channels, openat their upper ends to receive the matrices and having at their lowerends openings to permit the removal of individual matrices, incombination with an overlying distributenbar, means for 14 ea os guidingthe matrices in a downward direction to the end of the distributer, andmeans for causing the matrices to advance successively upon thedistributer, substantially as described and shown.

11. In a linotype-machine and in combina tion with the ordinary magazineand distributer, a conductor, J, for delivering the sortsmatrices in adownward direction from said distributer, a secondary magazine at thelower end of said conductor, a distrib uter overlying the secondarymagazine, and means for delivering the matrices successively from thelower end of the conductor to the secondary distributor, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 7th day of November,1898, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN R. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

M. G. REsEK, JOHN PAULSEN.

